Paar, Jack (Harold) (1918–2003)

US television presenter. In 1957 he was assigned to present the National Broadcasting Company's Tonight show, and he proved so successful that it was renamed the Jack Paar Show (1958–62). A natural conversationalist and interviewer, with a roster of favourite guests, he was known for his feuds on and off camera.

Paar was born in Canton, Ohio. He quit school at age 16 and began working as a radio announcer in the Midwest. In the US Army in World War II he entertained with service shows in the South Pacific. After the war he had some minor movie roles and then began to appear as presenter of a series of radio and television shows. After retirement he bought a local Maryland television station, and returned only briefly (1973) with a weekly television show.